Psychological Development and Education ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (2): 187-195.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2024.02.05

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The Relationship between Creativity and Meaning in Life among College Students: The Role of Positive Emotion and Creative Self-efficacy

HAN Jiantao1, QIAN Junni1, ZHANG Jieyu1, PANG Weiguo2   

  1. 1. School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000;
    2. School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062
  • Published:2024-03-18

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Abstract: The goal of the present study was to explore the relationship between creativity and meaning in life, as well as the positive emotion and creative self-efficacy behind this relationship among college students. 665 college students were asked to complete Runco Ideational Behavior Scale, Positive Affect Scale, Creative Self-Efficacy Scale, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire. The results indicated that: (1) Creativity, positive emotion, creative self-efficacy, and meaning in life were all positively connected; (2) Positive emotion played a partial mediating role between creativity and meaning in life; (3) Creative self-efficacy significantly moderated the direct relationship between creativity and meaning in life, showing a stronger creativity-meaning association in group with low rather than high levels of creative self-efficacy. This study addresses the theoretical relationship between creativity and meaning in life. On a practical level, it demonstrates that a stimulation of the creative activities of college students can enhance their sense of meaning in life.

Key words: creativity, meaning in life, positive emotion, creative self-efficacy

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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